According to film historian David Robinson, the formulaic hour long “B” Western was the “perfect vehicle for the producer working on a shoestring budget who could not afford a sound stage or construct lavish sets.” All a studio had to do was “hire a few actors, rent a half-dozen horses and travel a few miles outside Los Angeles, where nature provided the kind of spectacular scenery that could give an extra boost to even the most shaky productions.”

“I think the real appeal was that the hero always had good, strong values,” he says. “He didn’t drink, swear, or carouse. If he hit a guy, he’d pick him up afterwards. Instead of killing the villain, he’d shoot the hat off his head. For kids who didn’t really have a role model — and that includes me — these figures were like your father, preacher, and Sunday-school teacher, all rolled into one. You’d come out of the theater feeling like your soul had just been cleansed.” – Bobby Copeland

I still need the address of the Brown store and any information about the status of his birthplace, 519 S. St. Andrews, will be appreciated. Belinda Cook says it burned down and has been rebuilt. His parents are buried in the City Cemetery but I don't know how to find their graves.John Henry's obituary appeared in the TUSCALOOSA NEWS and he was said to be a frequent visitor to Tuscaloosa. Dothan Eagle obituaries would be appreciated. Grave marker John Henry Brown June 20, 1874 August 11, 1930 Hattie McGilvary Brown October 1884 November 1932 I don't have access to the old Eagles and there was definitely a welcome home day for Johnny Mack in Dothan in early 1926. There were many speeches given and the ceremonies probably occurred at The Hotel Martin on East Main. Newspaper articles,photos or copies of the speeches would be appreciated. WTVY was Channel 9 up until about 1960. If you could go through the old Eagles and see if there was a Western Movie program on Saturday afternoon. I'd like to know the name of it. WTVY was associated with the NTA Network in the late 50s. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTA_Film_Network According to one account, Cornelia and Johnny Mack moved back to Dothan after they were married in Judge Foster's house in Tuscaloosa in June of 1926. Of course, anything concerning Johnny Mack visiting Dothan will be appreciated. Think he was a guest of the 1953 and 1957 Peanut Festivals. Troy Lewis' wife, Ada, was Johnny Mack's aunt so any time he was in town he visited her. from Sid Segler: My dad's youngest sister, my beloved Aunt Mattie and her husband, Leroy Peacock, lived in an apartment behind Troy and Ada Lewis's home. Troy owned Troy Lewis Men's Store just up from the Ritz Theater on Foster Street. Ada was Johnny Mack Brown's Aunt. Anytime Johnny Mack was coming back to Dothan to visit them, Ada would alert Aunt Mattie who would call and let me know. She'd drive over to Jeff Street to pick me up and visit with him. She and he were in DHS together. I was able several times to brag to my Highland School buddies that I had spent time with the great Hollywood star, Johnny Mack Brown! Because of our upcoming vacation, my personal deadline is Wednesday, September 25, but I really have until the first week in October. Best, r

Please feel free to ignore or not answer any of my questions. I have no plans to publish anything on the Old Dutch in the near future and I will definitely contact you before using any information or images you provide. One of the items that I was so glad to find was the News-Herald photo of the fireplace. Do you have any other photographs of the interior or exterior? Old blueprints or a sketch of the layout of the bar and dance hall would be nice. How much of the dance hall was part of the original structure or was all of it part of the original cabin? How did Hurricane Eloise damage the building? Was anything salvaged before demolition? The K-OTICS were playing the Old Dutch in the summer of '65 when they visited the Old Hickory and first heard THE SWINGIN' MEDALLIONS play DOUBLE SHOT OF MY BABY'S LOVE. This was the beginning of a series of events which resulted in the recording and release of the record by both groups in the spring of '66. Do you have any memories of the K-OTICs, the Swingin' Medallions or DOUBLE SHOT? I know there are tales of vehicles ending up in the swimming pool or under the water of the Gulf and the motel guests were often guilty of all sorts of mischief but what are your memories of some of the craziest things that occurred at the Old Dutch? After '71, you were able to stay open until 4 A.M. What would be the routine for a typical day during the season? How would that change of Friday and Saturday? How did the week of July the 4th change that routine? (Musicians who stayed in the quarters underneath the stage mention the laundry starting up early in the morning and the odors produced by the washing and drying.) I know you saw many changes in entertainment over the years. Soul bands transformed themselves into psychedelic and heavy metal rock bands, etc. What changes do you remember in entertainment? Did blacks ever perform at the Old Dutch and were they ever patrons? Many of the musicians you hired were youngsters who experienced their first taste of nightclub life at the Old Dutch. Many of them recall seeing their first strip tease act while performing back up music for the stripper's performance. Other musicians recall meeting their first lesbian couples at the Old Dutch or seeing a woman go bra-less in public for the first time inside the Old Dutch. Do you have any memories of "women's liberation" at the Old Dutch? How did the off-season differ from the summer? Well those 13 questions are a good start. If you'd simply like to talk to me over the phone instead of typing answers, let me know. Thanks. Best, r

Dear Jim:
Next Wednesday, September 11, is the 100th anniversary of Coach Bryant's birth.

Here's a Birmingham News article about the event planned in Birmingham Wednesday night http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/09/paul_bear_bryants_100th_birthd.html

The Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa is also unveiling a new exhibit along with a film and book.
http://bryant100.com/

Here's the trailer for the new film, MAMA CALLED
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10201871128570350&set=vb.30287023558&type=2&theater

Great Sept. '45 article about Bryant's takeover of Maryland http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xipWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=o-QDAAAAIBAJ&dq=north%20carolina%20pre-flight%20football%20paul-bryant&pg=6965%2C6991024

Here's Coach Bryant's own version of how his career started at Maryland. It begins on page 100
http://books.google.com/books?id=wR-HNCyR6e0C&pg=PA101&lpg=PA101&dq=curley+byrd+paul+bryant&source=bl&ots=Tl-N4Yvefu&sig=fLjalHVCAl4CKp-9YEbxTgJl6Tk&hl

Here's one more University of Maryland link
http://www.lib.umd.edu/blogs/univarch_exhibits/?p=35

Here's Coach Bryant's own version of how his career started at Maryland. It begins on page 100
http://books.google.com/books?id=wR-HNCyR6e0C&pg=PA101&lpg=PA101&dq=curley+byrd+paul+bryant&source=bl&ots=Tl-N4Yvefu&sig=fLjalHVCAl4CKp-9YEbxTgJl6Tk&hl

Here's one more link
http://www.lib.umd.edu/blogs/univarch_exhibits/?p=35

This is a terrific story about two sports titans: Curley Byrd and Bear Bryant
The way Bryant was suddenly hired, the way the players suddenly showed up on campus after WWII and the one hour it took Coach Bryant to quit have the makings of something unique and interesting. Some of those guys on the '45 Maryland team probably remember the guy Bryant kicked off the team and why Curley reinstated him while Bryant was off on vacation. That story would make some great reading.
Best,
Robert Register

Dear Jeff:
Next Wednesday, September 11, is the 100th anniversary of Coach Bryant's birth.

Here's a Birmingham News article about the event planned in Birmingham Wednesday night http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/09/paul_bear_bryants_100th_birthd.html

The Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa is also unveiling a new exhibit along with a film and book.
http://bryant100.com/

Here's the trailer for the new film, MAMA CALLED
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10201871128570350&set=vb.30287023558&type=2&theater

Here's Coach Bryant's own version of how his career started at Maryland. It begins on page 100
http://books.google.com/books?id=wR-HNCyR6e0C&pg=PA101&lpg=PA101&dq=curley+byrd+paul+bryant&source=bl&ots=Tl-N4Yvefu&sig=fLjalHVCAl4CKp-9YEbxTgJl6Tk&hl

Here's one more link
http://www.lib.umd.edu/blogs/univarch_exhibits/?p=35

This is a terrific story about two sports titans: Curley Byrd and Bear Bryant
The way Bryant was suddenly hired, the way the players suddenly showed up on campus after WWII and the one hour it took Coach Bryant to quit have the makings of something unique and interesting.
Best,
Robert Register